Goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel reckons Joe Hart and David de Gea have a key attribute all top stoppers must - the ability to bounce back from a mistake.

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel says City keeper Joe Hart can take inspiration from his Red counterpart David de Gea by having the last laugh on his ­critics.

Despite the Blues’ fine start to the season – and the fact they have only conceded four goals to date in the Premier League, Hart has been accused of suffering a dip in form for both club and country after a number of individual errors.

But the former Reds icon, who also spent a season with City towards the end of his career, insists Hart is still one of the best keepers in the Premier League and says he is only being criticised because he is England’s No.1.

He is now backing him to bounce back and prove his doubters wrong by putting in the type of displays which helped City to win the Premier League title in 2012.

And the Great Dane says Hart can take inspiration from the way Old Trafford counterpart de Gea has won over his critics with a string of impressive performances, after suffering a torrid start to his United career.

Schmeichel said: “Joe Hart has come in for a bit of criticism but it’s only because he’s the England goalkeeper and he’s not got any competition. It’s always been like that, it’s just the way the English media works.

“Joe Hart is a tough cookie and he won’t listen to any of that. A lot of what he has been criticised for is just rubbish.

“Every player makes mistakes, every goalkeeper makes mistakes, every manager does, every broadcaster, every person in life makes mistakes. But for goalkeepers often when they make a mistake it leads to a goal.

“In terms of de Gea, the criticism came in the first six months of his career at United. The way he has responded to that and improved shows what a great goalkeeper he can potentially be when you have that mentality.

“It’s not the mistake that’s important, it’s how you recover from it. If you recover instantly, in that second it’s gone from your mind. You play on and don’t make the next mistake and that’s the sign of a top keeper. Joe Hart certainly is one of those guys.

“Looking at de Gea, I’m happy he’s at United as he’s a really good goalkeeper. He is without doubt my successor.”

With Hart and de Gea at the forefront, Schmeichel also believes that the overall standard of goalkeeping in the Premier League has improved since its inception two decades ago – with some of the best stoppers in the world now plying their trade in England.

“I think like everything else, we have got some of the best players in the world playing in the Premier League and that includes the goalkeepers,” he added.

“I think the standard of goalkeeping has improved in the last 20 years and there are now some great goalkeepers in the Premier League.”

Schmeichel was speaking at the National Football Museum in Manchester where he was officially inducted into their Hall of Fame.

Although he described the recognition as a big personal honour, he paid tribute to his former United team-mates and former manager Sir Alex Ferguson for their support throughout his career.

“Football is a team sport. I’m proud of what I achieved in my career but I also know that I wouldn’t have achieved any of it without the support of my team-mates. I played with great players, great managers and in great teams,” Schmeichel added.

“You do nothing on your own in football. I’m sure if you had that conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson, he would say he couldn’t have done it without his players.

“He wouldn’t say he did it because he was the greatest. It’s a team thing, you do everything as a team.

“But, in later life when you are singled out like this, it makes you really proud, you understand what your impact has been.

“For a Danish boy to come to England and play out his boyhood dream to play for United, play in an FA Cup final at Wembley, for all that to happen and also end up in the Hall of Fame and be honoured by the Queen for services to football, it’s crazy but it makes me proud.”

Schmeichel also reserved special praise for Sir Alex and the role he played in his success.

“Every team needs a leader but we didn’t have a good leader, we had an exceptional leader – someone who could inspire us and motivate us, to make us understand how good we could be. Sir Alex had a big impact on me.”

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